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Saying JKR is not transphobic ≠ saying JKR is top banana.
"I hate the idea we are fighting between ourselves" is the key phrase for me.
I take it as Eddie placing herself in the same group as JKR. There's a lot of subtle, thoughtful power in that.
"I hate the idea we are fighting between ourselves" is the key phrase for me.
I take it as Eddie placing herself in the same group as JKR. There's a lot of subtle, thoughtful power in that.
Sometimes, saying someone "isn't transphobic" simply keeps a hostile audience onside while you explain the actual flaws in and dangers of their arguments.
Conversely, a "hot" word, like transphobe, homophobe, racist, immediately alienates that audience, letting them off the hook
Conversely, a "hot" word, like transphobe, homophobe, racist, immediately alienates that audience, letting them off the hook
That said, I still think it's important for Eddie to tread carefully. It's hard (maybe impossible) for trans people to inject and maintain nuance in these conversations.
If we are naive, our words are all too easily weaponised against us or used as wedges driven between us.
If we are naive, our words are all too easily weaponised against us or used as wedges driven between us.
And none of this is about whether I do or don't think JKR is transphobic, based on my understand of the word. I just don't think that's a particularly interesting or important conversation to be having.
And and by hostile audience, I very much don't mean terfs/terf twitter. That's a lost cause.
I'm talking about the millions of everyone not on twitter, who are predisposed to support trans people but are being duped by "culture war" propaganda.
I'm talking about the millions of everyone not on twitter, who are predisposed to support trans people but are being duped by "culture war" propaganda.
Lastly, it's the Torygraph. We don't know what's been edited out and what's been highlighted for divisive impact.
I will ALWAYS give a trans person the benefit of the doubt over a necrotising, right-wing gossip rag.
I will ALWAYS give a trans person the benefit of the doubt over a necrotising, right-wing gossip rag.
